Ex-Delhi minister Satyender Jain to court: ‘ED, CBI confused about real proceeds of crime’
AAP leader Satyendar Jain argued that he ought to get regular bail in the money laundering case against him owing to delay in starting the trial.
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The CBI had earlier charge-sheeted Jain for allegedly amassing assets to the tune of Rs 1.47 crore in a disproportionate assets (DA) case. Later, the ED had attached properties worth Rs 4.81 crore belonging to four companies allegedly linked to Jain and his relatives in connection with a money laundering probe. (File Photo)Former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday stated before a Delhi court that both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) were confused about the “real” proceeds of crime. The AAP leader argued that he ought to get regular bail in the money laundering case against him owing to the long period of incarceration and delay in starting the trial.
“The ED can investigate only that portion which the CBI says are the proceeds of crime (scheduled offence). As per the CBI, Rs 1.27 crore are the proceeds of crime, while the ED says that it is Rs 4.68 crore,” senior advocate N Hariharan representing Jain told Special Judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Court.
Jain who was arrested by the ED in May 2022 is currently in judicial custody.
The CBI had earlier charge-sheeted Jain for allegedly amassing assets to the tune of Rs 1.47 crore in a disproportionate assets (DA) case. Later, the ED had attached properties worth Rs 4.81 crore belonging to four companies allegedly linked to Jain and his relatives in connection with a money laundering probe.
“Since the ED doesn’t have the remit to investigate the increased quantum of proceeds of crime, they sent their views back to CBI. Now the CBI is saying they’ll reinvestigate the matter,” said Hariharan pointing out that trial was yet to begin despite the CBI’s FIR being five years old.
Hariharan added that there were 108 witnesses in the case and over 5,000-pages worth documents. “There are 17 judgments following Manish Sisodia (in which bail has been granted interim PMLA cases despite stringent conditions),” he said. “Jain has spent 18 months in custody. Sisodia spent 17.”
The senior counsel also said that almost all the accused in the excise policy “scam” which allegedly runs into hundreds of crores of rupees had been granted bail.
“Had the accused been cooperative, we would be at an advanced stage of trial. Jain himself filed an application to defer arguments on charge,” said ED special counsel Zoheb Hossain stating that the delay was caused by the accused itself.
“In Manish Sisodia’s case, there was no delay on his part. That’s the difference. A person can’t ask for adjournments and say that the trial was delayed,” Hossain added.
The Delhi High Court had on Tuesday denied default bail to two co-accused in the ED’s case against Jain.
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